MelampusmGreek Mythology In the Greek myths Melampus was the cousin of Bellerophon and won glory and fame all because he was kind to animals. One day when he was a boy he saw some orphaned baby snakes by the side of the road... [more]
MelanchthonmEnglish (Rare, Archaic) From the family name of Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560), Protestant leader and associate of Luther. The name was originally Schwartzerdt, "black-earth", in German, which was translated into Greek (using melas (genitive melanos) "black" and chthon "land, earth, soil"), as was sometimes done during the time of the enthusiasm for Greek studies during the Renaissance... [more]
MelancomasmAncient Greek (Latinized) Latinized form of Melankomas. This name was borne by two tyrants of Ephesus, the earliest of which lived around 500 BC. It was also the name of an Olympic victor from the 1st century AD.
MelancthafLiterature Used by Gertrude Stein for the heroine of one of her 'Three Lives' (1909). It could be a feminization of Melanchthon.
MelaneusmGreek Mythology Derived from Greek μελανέω (melaneō) meaning "to grow black, to become black", which is ultimately derived from Greek μελαινα (melaina) meaning "black, dark" (see Melanie)... [more]
MelangellfWelsh The name of an early Welsh saint, known as the patron saint of small creatures because she sheltered a hare from the hounds of Prince Brochwel Ysgythrog during his hunting expedition... [more]
MelanipposmGreek Mythology The first element of this name is derived from the Greek adjective μελανός (melanos) meaning "black, dark", which is the genitive form of the Greek adjective μέλας (melas) meaning "black, dark"... [more]
MelankomasmAncient Greek Derived from the Greek adjective μελαγκόμης (melankomes) meaning "black-haired". It is a compound word, of which the first element consists of μελανός (melanos), the genitive of the Greek adjective μέλας (melas) meaning "black, dark"... [more]
MelanthofAncient Greek, Greek Mythology Derived from Greek μελανθης (melanthes) "black". This is the name of several minor figures in Greek mythology. It also occurs in Homer's epic the 'Odyssey' belonging to the favourite maid of Penelope, who is described as "sharp-tongued", and is later hanged alongside the other maids who had lain with Penelope's suitors; she is the sister of Melanthios, an insolent goatherd killed by Odysseus.
MelanthosmGreek Mythology Means "black flower", derived from Greek μελας (melas) meaning "black" combined with Greek ανθος (anthos) meaning "flower, blossom". Also compare Melanthios.
MelanthusmGreek Mythology (Latinized) Latinized form of Melanthos. In Greek mythology, Melanthus was a king of Messenia who was later expelled from Messenia and instead became king of Athens.
MelasipposmLate Greek Means "black horse", derived from the Greek adjective μέλας (melas) meaning "black, dark" combined with the Greek noun ‘ιππος (hippos) meaning "horse". Also see the name Melanippos, which is etymologically related and has the same meaning.... [more]
MelbournemEnglish, Romani (Archaic) After the capital of the Australian state of Victoria. It is named for the British prime minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. His title comes from his estate, Melbourne Hall in Derbyshire, whose name means "mill stream"... [more]
MelchizedekmBiblical Means "my king is righteousness" from Hebrew מֶלֶךְ (mélekh) meaning "king" and צֶדֶק (tzédek) meaning "righteousness". In the Old Testament this is the name of a priest king who gives Abraham a blessing.
MeleagermAncient Greek (Latinized), History, Greek Mythology Latinized form of Meleagros. In history, this was the name of a king from the Ptolemaic Dynasty of ancient Egypt. In Greek mythology, this was the name of a hero who was the host of the Calydonian boar hunt.
MeleagrosmAncient Greek Possibly related to Greek μέλας (melas) meaning "black, dark" and ἀγρός (agros) meaning "land, field", giving this name the meaning of "black land", perhaps in reference to burnt farmland (which was burnt in order to make the ground fertile)... [more]
MeleahfEnglish (American, Rare) Variant of Melia, possibly influenced by the Hebrew word מְלֵאָה (mele'ah) meaning "fullness, full produce, harvest".
MeleranzmArthurian Cycle Arthur’s nephew and hero of Der Pleier’s Meleranz. He was the son of Olimpia, Arthur’s sister, and King Linefles of France.... [more]
MelerifWelsh, History (Ecclesiastical) Combination of the intensifying prefix my- and Eleri. Saint Meleri was a daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog who married Ceredig ap Cunedda and became the grandmother of Saint David.
Meler-yerdimCaucasian Mythology Meaning unknown. Meler-Yerdi was the god of plants and cereal beverages in Vainakh mythology.
MelesmGreek Mythology Meles is the god of the river Meles, near Smyrna. He was believed by some to have been the father of Homer.
MelesandrosmAncient Greek The first element of this name is derived from the Greek noun μελησμός (melesmos) meaning "care, diligence", which is ultimately derived from the Greek verb μέλω (melo) meaning "to be an object of care or interest" as well as "to care for, to be interested in".... [more]
MelesipposmAncient Greek The first element of this name is derived from the Greek noun μελησμός (melesmos) meaning "care, diligence", which is ultimately derived from the Greek verb μέλω (melo) meaning "to be an object of care or interest" as well as "to care for, to be interested in".... [more]
MeletiusmLate Greek (Latinized), History (Ecclesiastical) Latinized form of Meletios. Saint Meletius was a Christian bishop of Antioch from 360 until his death in 381. His episcopate was dominated by a schism which is usually called the Meletian schism.
MeletosmAncient Greek The meaning of this name is a little bit uncertain. It could have been derived from Greek μελέτη (melete) "care, attention", but it could also have been derived from Greek μελέτα (meleta) "resolution, diligence"... [more]
MeliadicefArthurian Cycle A descendant of Arthur and heroine of the romance Cleriadus et Meliadice, published in Paris in 1495. The author of the work is unknown, but it is believed to have been based on earlier French and English romances.... [more]
MelianusmArthurian Cycle A knight whose lands were protected from Nabor the Giant by the Good Knight Without Fear.... [more]
MeliasmArthurian Cycle, Literature Son of the King of Denmark, Melias entered the Grail Quest as squire to King Bagdemagus, but left him at the White Abbey and went with Galahad instead.
MéliaumMedieval French From the Latin miles, meaning "soldier". This was the name of a Breton saint, known for sharing his cloak with a beggar, who was beheaded in the mid-6th century AD.
MelibeemArthurian Cycle, Literature Melibee is a shepherd in Book 6 of "The Faerie Queene" who rejected courtly life for farm life. He raised Pastorella after finding her as a baby. He is killed by the Brigands.
MeliboeafGreek Mythology (Latinized) Derived from Greek μελι (meli) meaning "honey" and βοάω (boaô) "to shout, to proclaim" (when used of the wind, "to roar" and "to howl"; cf... [more]
MelicafHebrew From the Hebrew name מִלְכָּה (Milkah), derived from מַלְכָּה (malkah) meaning "queen". This name appears in the Old Testament belonging to both the wife of Nahor and the daughter of Zelophehad.Variant of the name Milcah.
MelilotfLiterature Melilot Brandybuck was a hobbit in 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a botanical name, like many female hobbit names.
MelindrafLiterature A minor character from Danielle Paige's 2014 novel Dorothy Must Die bears this name.
MelinefGreek Mythology Derived from Greek μῆλον (melon) meaning "apple" or "quince". This was the name of a princess in Greek mythology, a daughter of Thespius and Megamede... [more]
MélinéefFrench (?) Probably comes from either Mélanie or Mélaine or from Mélina or Méline. Famous bearer include Mélinée Manouchian (1913-1989), Armenian resistance fighters in France during World War II.
MelinettefLiterature Melinette was a named fairy in the fairy tale "Narcissus and Potentilla".
MelionmArthurian Cycle A British knight in a French lai, who possessed an enchanted ring. This ring enabled him to change into a werewolf and back again. His wife stole the ring when he was in lupine form, trapping him there until her treason was detected.... [more]
MeliorfMedieval English (Rare) Older form of Meliora, thought to come from Latin melior "better". Melior occurs as both family name and given name in Christian inscriptions of the Roman Empire... [more]
MelisandrefLiterature, Popular Culture The name of a witch, known as the Red Priestess, in George R. R. Martin's book series "A Song of Ice and Fire." He likely based her name off the French name Mélisande.
MelissanthefGreek (Rare) Composed of Greek μελισσα (melissa) "honeybee" and ανθος (anthos) "flower". It is used as a Graecized form of Mélisande (e.g., the 12th-century queen Melisende of Jerusalem is known as Melissanthe in Greek)... [more]
MelisseusmGreek Mythology Derived from Greek μελισσεύς (melisseus) meaning "bee-keeper, bee-man", which is ultimately derived from Greek μέλισσα (melissa) meaning "honey-bee" (also see Melissa)... [more]
MelissusmAncient Greek (Latinized) Latinized form of Melissos. A known bearer of this name was Melissus of Samos, an ancient Greek philosopher from the 5th century BC.
MelitinifHistory (Ecclesiastical) Of debated origin and meaning; theories include a derivation from Greek μέλι (meli) "honey" and a feminine form of Meletios. Saint Melitini was a martyr blessed with the gift of wonderworking who lived in the city of Marcianopolis in Thrace during the rule of the emperor Antoninus Pius ((138-161).
MelitónmSpanish (Rare), Galician Spanish and Galician form of Meliton. A known bearer of this name was the Peruvian naval commander and government official Melitón Carvajal (1847-1935).
MelkinmArthurian Cycle John of Glastonbury mentions a vaticinator (one who foresees the future), who lived before Myrddin (Merlin) and uttered a prophecy about Glastonbury, couched in obscure Latin, which is difficult to interpret... [more]